Dutch Clark
Earl Harry "Dutch" Clark, born on October 11, 1906, in Colorado, was a notable figure in American football, revered both as a player and coach. Growing up in Pueblo, he emerged as an exceptional athlete, earning sixteen letters in multiple sports during his high school years and becoming an all-American in basketball. Clark went on to play college football at Colorado College, where he gained national recognition as a quarterback, earning all-American honors and achieving remarkable stats, including a standout game against the University of Wyoming.
His professional career began with the Portsmouth Spartans in the NFL, where he led the league in scoring multiple times before the franchise relocated to Detroit, becoming the Lions. Clark was instrumental in leading the Lions to an NFL championship in 1935 and was known as a versatile player, excelling as a running back, passer, and kicker. After his playing days, he transitioned into coaching, holding positions with several teams and eventually serving as head coach at the University of Detroit.
Clark's contributions to football were recognized with his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame when it opened in 1963. Throughout his life, he was known for his quiet demeanor off the field, contrasting with his aggressive and strategic nature during games. He passed away on August 5, 1978, leaving behind a legacy as one of football's early greats.
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Subject Terms
Dutch Clark
Athletic Director
- Born: October 11, 1906
- Birthplace: Fowler, Colorado
- Died: August 5, 1978
- Place of death: Cañon City, Colorado
Sport: Football
Early Life
Earl Harry “Dutch” Clark was born on October 11, 1906, on a farm near Fowler, Colorado. The fourth of five children born to Harry J. and Mary Etta Clark, he was given the nickname “Dutch” at birth. His two older brothers were also called Dutch. They were referred to as “Big Dutch,” brother Carl, “Dutch,” brother Fred, and “Little Dutch,” Earl. However, Earl made the nickname famous. The Clark family moved to Pueblo, Colorado, when Dutch was very young.
The Road to Excellence
Dutch began his journey to excellence when he entered Central High School in Pueblo, at the age of seventeen. In three years, he earned a total of sixteen letters in four sports. He made the Colorado all-state teams in football and basketball, and was named all-American in basketball. In 1926, Dutch’s Central High School basketball team played in the Stagg National Interscholastic Finals in Chicago. Football, though, became Dutch’s strength. The 175-pound center was converted to a back by his high school coaches. During his three seasons at Central, he scored a total of 298 points. He helped lead the Central Wildcats to South-Central League titles in 1924 and 1925. Going unbeaten in the 1925 season, Central met and defeated Littleton, Colorado, in the opening playoff game, 58-3, with Dutch scoring five touchdowns. Dutch’s accomplishments during his three seasons at Central gave him fame as the greatest high school athlete in the history of Colorado.
Dutch’s philosophy helped make him a great athlete. His sister Pearl described him as believing that he could never take anything for granted, that only through hard work and intense training could he excel in sports. Dutch was definitely serious about sports.
The Emerging Champion
Though Dutch was recruited by football powers such as the University of Michigan, he elected to attend Northwestern University. However, he left Northwestern after only one week with a bad case of homesickness. He then enrolled in small Colorado College, where he played freshman football in 1926, and joined the varsity in 1927. As a football player at Colorado College, Dutch became a national figure.
Dutch was switched to quarterback by Coach Hans Van de Graaff and began to become known in college football. In his junior year, he rushed for 1,359 yards in only 135 carries and earned all-American honors from the Associated Press, becoming the first Coloradan so honored. In a game against the University of Wyoming, Dutch carried for 381 yards, completed 8 of 15 passes for 200 more yards, and scored 36 points as Colorado won 48-25.
In his senior year, Dutch scored all the points in a 3-2 victory over the University of Denver. Dutch’s squad was unable to make any headway in the first half. In the second half, Dutch, who was also the team’s punter, dropped back in the end zone to punt. He was tackled hard, giving Denver a safety and 2 points. Dutch tried in vain to move the ball against Denver’s defense, but with only 90 seconds remaining he drop-kicked from the 38-yard line. The ball traveled over the upright, not between, and the referee signaled the kick no good. Dutch called time out and got the referee’s attention. Coach Van de Graaff convinced the referee that a field goal is good even if the kick does not split the upright, and persuaded the referee to reverse his decision, giving Colorado the win. In 1930, Dutch ended his collegiate football career by participating in the East-West Shrine Game and graduated from Colorado with a bachelor’s degree in biology.
Dutch began his professional football career with the Portsmouth, Ohio, Spartans of the NFL. Times were hard in Portsmouth during the Depression. More fans showed up for practice than for the games, and from time to time the players got paychecks only to find there was no money in the bank to cover them.
Dutch led the NFL in scoring in 1932, 1935, and 1936. During the 1933 season he bowed out of professional football briefly to become the athletic director and football and basketball coach at the University of Colorado, but he soon returned to the NFL. In 1934, the Portsmouth franchise moved to Detroit and became the Lions. That year, Dutch was named all-pro quarterback for the third time. In 1935, Dutch helped lead the Lions to an NFL title.
Dutch ended his playing career with the Lions in 1938 while serving as one of the last player-coaches in the NFL. Known as the “Flying Dutchman” during his professional playing days, he was often considered to be the greatest triple-threat back of his era. He was not only a running back but also the team’s passer and field-goal kicker. In addition, he was a safety on defense.
Continuing the Story
Dutch stayed in professional football through the next thirteen years. He coached the Cleveland Rams for four years before joining the coaching staff of the Pacific Coast Professional Football League’s (PCPFL’s) Seattle Bombers. Dutch ended his professional coaching career with the All-America Football Conference’s (AAFC’s) Los Angeles Dons.
In 1951, he was appointed head football coach and athletic director at the University of Detroit. He stayed there until 1955, when he resigned to be a representative of a Detroit tool-and-die firm. He retired in 1963 and lived in Royal Oaks, Michigan, until 1976, when he decided to return to his native state. The Clarks built a home in Cañon City, Colorado, where Dutch lived until his death on August 5, 1978.
Summary
Dutch Clark was a quiet, soft-spoken man off the field. He stayed out of the spotlight and avoided admiring fans. On the playing field, though, he was aggressive and confident, a bold leader who made decisions rapidly and with precision. He was a master strategist, constantly probing for a weakness in the opposition. When the Pro Football Hall of Fame opened in 1963, Dutch was made one of the original members in recognition of his many accomplishments.
Bibliography
Carroll, Bob. Total Football: The Official Encyclopedia of the National Football League. New York: HarperCollins, 1999.
“Clark, Dutch.” American National Biography 4 (1999).
Peterson, Robert. Pigskin: The Early Years of Pro Football. New York: Oxford University Press, 1997.
Porter, David L., ed. Biographical Dictionary of American Sports: Football. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press, 1987.
Willis, Chris. Old Leather: An Oral History of Early Pro Football in Ohio, 1920-1935. Lanham, Md.: Scarecrow Press, 2005.